Azure Compute Snapshot pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Azure Compute Snapshot pattern-based discovery

    The Azure Compute Snapshot pattern-based discovery helps ServiceNow customers identify and inventory Azure compute snapshot resources within their cloud environment. This capability is part of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application and requires meeting Azure discovery prerequisites and enabling the relevant discovery pattern. It supports discovery of both standard Azure regions and GovCloud (US) accounts.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern activation: The Azure Compute Snapshot pattern is disabled by default. Starting with Visibility Content version 6.28.0, activating or deactivating patterns no longer counts as customization, allowing patterns to receive continuous updates and reset to the latest version upon upgrades.
    • Discovery schedule configuration: Special configuration is required to discover Azure GovCloud (US) accounts, including using a datacenter URL when setting up Azure service accounts.
    • Data population: The pattern populates data both in ServiceNow CMDB tables and non-CMDB tables, providing comprehensive inventory details.
    • Azure tag collection: Tags from Azure resources are collected and stored in the Key Value [cmdbkeyvalue] table, enabling enhanced resource categorization and management.

    Data and Tables

    The discovery populates key tables as follows:

    • Non-CMDB table [cmdbazurecomputesnapshot]: Stores detailed snapshot metadata such as disk state, encryption type, location, network access policy, OS type, provisioning state, SKU tier, subscription and tenant IDs, and resource group.
    • CMDB table [cmdbcistoragevolsnapshot]: Contains core configuration item (CI) data including capacity, install and operational status, location, name, object ID, and state of the storage volume snapshots.
    • Tag data [cmdbkeyvalue]: Stores key-value pairs representing Azure resource tags.

    CI Relationships

    The pattern establishes essential relationships to accurately map resource dependencies and hierarchy in the CMDB:

    • Resource Group contains Storage Volume Snapshots.
    • Storage Volume Snapshots are hosted on Azure Datacenters.
    • Azure Compute Snapshots reference Storage Volume Snapshots.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    By leveraging this pattern-based discovery, customers can:

    • Automatically discover and maintain up-to-date inventory of Azure compute snapshots across subscriptions and regions, including GovCloud.
    • Gain visibility into snapshot properties, encryption, network policies, and operational states directly within the ServiceNow CMDB.
    • Utilize Azure tags within ServiceNow for enhanced asset management and reporting.
    • Ensure discovery patterns remain current and supported through streamlined pattern activation and upgrade handling.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds Azure services on your cloud environment. Discovering some of these resources may require updating to the latest version of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application from the ServiceNow Store.

    Pattern-based discovery and mapping requirements

    Verify the Microsoft Azure discovery prerequisites
    For more information, see the prerequisites section in Microsoft Azure Cloud discovery using patterns.
    Enable the relevant pattern
    The pattern for this service is disabled by default. Starting with Visibility Content version 6.28.0, activating or deactivating a pattern won't be considered a customization, and it will continue to receive updates. Patterns that were previously activated or deactivated will reset to the latest predefined version after upgrading while retaining the last active field value. For more information on enabling patterns, see Activate a disabled pattern.
    Configure the Discovery schedule to support GovCloud
    Discovering Azure GovCloud (US) accounts requires using a datacenter URL when setting up an Azure service account. For more information, see Set up Azure service accounts.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in both CMDB and non-CMDB tables.

    Data stored in non-CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the non-CMDB table when running the Azure - Compute Snapshot - Extended Inventory(LP) pattern.

    You can review the non-CMDB Azure tables by navigating to All > Configuration > Azure. You can also search the navigation filter for the specific pattern name.

    Table 1. Azure Compute - Snapshot [cmdb_azure_compute_snapshot]
    Field Description
    Disk State [disk_state] The current state of the disk. For example: Attached or Unattached.
    Encryption Type [encryption_type] The encryption mechanism applied to the resource data. For example: EncryptionAtRestWithCustomerKey or EncryptionAtRestWithPlatformKey.
    DC Location [location] The geographic location where the resource is deployed.
    Network Access Policy [network_access_policy] The policy that governs network access to the resource.
    Object Id [object_id] A unique identifier for the queried resource.
    OS Type [os_type] The type of operating system associated with the resource.
    Provisioning State [provisioning_state] Current provisioning state of the resource. For example: Succeeded or Failed.
    Public Network Access [public_network_access] Indicates whether the resource can be accessed via the public network.
    Resource Group [resource_group] Name of the resource group.
    SKU Tier [sku_tier] The tier of the stock keeping unit (SKU) that determines resource performance and costs.
    Subscription Id [subscription_id] The subscription ID.
    Tenant Id [tenant_id] The unique identifier of the tenant owning the resource.
    Type [type] The type or category of the resource.
    Configuration Item [configuration_item] References the Storage Volume Snapshot [cmdb_ci_storage_vol_snapshot] table.

    Data stored in CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the CMDB when running the Azure - Compute Snapshot - Extended Inventory(LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Storage Volume Snapshot [cmdb_ci_storage_vol_snapshot]
    Field Description
    Capacity [capacity] The size of the disk in terms of storage capacity.
    Install Status [install_status] Install status of the resource. Default value is Installed.
    Location [location] The geographic location where the resource is deployed.
    Name [name] The name of the resource.
    Object ID [object_id] A unique identifier for the queried resource in the following format: /subscriptions/{subscriptionId}/resourceGroups/{resouceGroupName}/providers/Microsoft.Compute/snapshots/{snapshotName}.
    Operational status [operational_status] Operational status of the resource. Default value is Operational.
    State [state] The current state of the disk. For example: Attached or Unattached.

    CI relationships

    The pattern creates these relationships to support discovery.

    CI Relationship CI
    Resource Group [cmdb_ci_resource_group] Contains::Contained by Storage Volume Snapshot [cmdb_ci_storage_vol_snapshot]
    Storage Volume Snapshot [cmdb_ci_storage_vol_snapshot] Hosted on::Hosts Azure Datacenter [cmdb_ci_azure_datacenter]
    Azure Compute - Snapshot [cmdb_azure_compute_snapshot] References Storage Volume Snapshot [cmdb_ci_storage_vol_snapshot]

    Azure tag discovery

    The pattern collects tags and populates them in the Key Value [cmdb_key_value] table.
    Table 3. Key Value [cmdb_key_value]
    Field Description
    Key [key] Tag name.
    Value [value] Tag value.